// Holland & Barrett trains over 4000 colleagues on menopause cycle
// It has opened a number of menopause Pause & Listen Rooms in city stores across the UK
Holland & Barrett has trained over 4,000 colleagues across its UK stores to recognise symptoms of menopause and advise on lifestyle and diet options.
In a bid to get people speaking about their menopause symptoms and seeking help, the health and wellness retailer has trained its staff to understand the different phases of the menopause cycle.
Holland & Barrett has opened a number of menopause Pause & Listen Rooms in city stores across the UK.
These dedicated rooms will offer a calming space and cool spots to speak with a trained menopause adviser.
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The move comes as new research conducted by the retailer reveals that 61% of women say they do not talk about the menopause for fear of being “judged”.
One in three said they have had experienced a negative reaction, such as shutting the conversation down, when they had spoken about what they were going through and how they were feeling.
A quarter said they had even experienced “menosplaining” with people trying to explain their menopause back to them rather than listening.
“There has been real progress made in recent years to bring the menopause to the forefront of the conversation, thanks to the many high-profile women who have been openly speaking about their experiences in the media,” Holland & Barrett Wellness Futures Science Lead, Fiona Sweny said.
“However, while awareness has improved, there is still a big job to be done in helping women feel heard. We know everyone’s journey is different and while we won’t pretend to know how an individual’s experience feels, we can promise to be there to listen, support, and offer guidance.”
